Floor mounted dust mop cleaning device



March 3, 1964 s. w. LIPSON 3,122,772

FLOOR MOUNTED DUST MOP CLEANING DEVICE Filed Oct. 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor San/arc! Wm. Z/psorz March 3, 1964 s. w. LIPSON FLOOR MOUNTED DUST MOP CLEANING DEVICE 2 Shee"r,s-Shee t. 2

Filed Oct. 2, 1961 MPH Inventor Sal? fora Wm. [4050/7 United States Patent 7 3.32257 FLQUR TViGUNTED BUST MG? CLEANING DEVICE Sanford W. Lipson, 2=3i5 l ryden Road, Eexley, @hio Filed Get. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 142,163 6 Claims. Ii. 15-310) My invention relates to improvements in dust mop cleaning devices.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a dust mop cleaning device which can be operated when permanently installed in the floor, at a location convenient to the areas generally cleaned with a dry dust mop.

This important feature makes the unit instantly available for use. The user is not required to unwind and connect a cord to an electric outlet or attach the unit to a conventional vacuum cleaner for suction each time it will be used.

Another object of the invention is to locate the operating mechanism below the door level so that no storage space is required. The design will permit the device to be walked upon without loss of floor space.

A further object of the invention is to locate the dust receiving slots ilush with the door, thus making it possible for dust, lint, and sweepings to be pusheddirectly into the suction openings for deposit into the dust collector bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suction unit within the appliance, which will be powered by an electric motor, arranged so that the movement of air will draw dust and lint from a dirty mop and deposit this dust and lint in a disposable dust collecting bag made of air pervious material.

A further object of t is invention is to provide the appliance with a hinged cover that can readily be opened exposing the dust collecting bag so that the bag may easily be removed and replaced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of simple and practical construction, which will be highly efficient, reliable, and inexpensive to operate and which will be economical to manufacture.

A further object or" this invention is to provide a device for the purposes described that can easily be installed in either new construction or existing homes, apartment buildings, oilice buildings, or other places where its use is desired.

Having described the invention, it is realized that it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and is not, the efore, the desire to limit it to the precise shown and described here.

i aren't from a study of the detailed description which follows, and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an installation or" a floor mounted dust mop cleaning device embodying my invention;

FEGURE 2 is a sectional side view through lines IIII in FIGURE 1, the upper portion of the dust collector adapter, t e dust collector bag, and the dust collector bag retaining ring being shown however in a section taken along a plane along the longitudinal axis of the dust collector bag;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial or fragmentary view in vertical section taken also along line 11-11 or" FIG. 1

nd illustrating the method of mounting the appliance into the floor;

FEGURE 4 is a side view mainly in elevation and illustrating the relationship between dust mop, floor, and the appliance mounted in the floor;

FEGURE 5 is a fragmentary view on a reduced scale partially in vertical section and partially in elevation showing a portion of the left hand half of the appliance Patented Mar. 3, i964 a li t;

as shown in FIG. 2 in sectio. '0 show the relationship of the inverted cone shaped disk which serves as a protector for impeller) to the impeller and motor;

Fi-GURE 6 is a view also on a reduced scale and in vertical section taken on the line VIVI of FIG. 5 showing th mounting flange which surrounds the open ing in the interior wall between the suction side and the exhaust side of the housing; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the impeller case and impeller case protector, the top of the housing being removed in order to show the impeller case and protector.

As an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, l have shown in the drawing in FF- URE 2 a housing it divided into two sections by the suction unit mount ll, which is firmly attached to the opposite sides and bottom of the housing 10. Side (:2) is the suction side and side (12) the exhaust side. Suction unit l2 contains an impeller, driven by an electric motor l3, and is located in the suction side of housing 1% which is mounted to the suction unit mount 11 by flange 14. The flange l4 surrounds the opening in the interior wall or suction unit mount ll through which dust laden air is driven by the suction unit 12 into a dust collector bag 17, as subsequently described.

Directly above the air inlet opening in the suction unit 12, an inverted cone shaped disc serving as impeller protector i5 is mounted to protect against solid objects which may fall into the impeller.

On the opposite side of the housing iii, in side (b) the dust collector bag adapter in is mounted to the suction unit mount 11. The opening in the dust collector bag l7 has been slipped over the dust collector adapter 16 is held in place with molded rubber dust collector -.a ning ring The exhaust side of the housing (side 12) is perforated with holes 19 to allow filtered air to escape the unit. In the installation of the unit into the iloor, the housing i is fastened to the sub-flooring with wood screws 2? mounted through the housing mounting clips as as shown in FIGURE 3. The top 29 is retained on the housing by use of top mounting screws 26 into top mounting clips 25, as shown in FIGURE 2. The top Ell is provided with a top cover 21 held in place with top cover hinges 22. A conventional toggle switch (not shown) is located in a wall adjacent to the unit and controls the motor 13 on suction unit 12. A strip of felt or soft compressible material 23 is cemented to the top edges of housing iii to effect an air-tight closure bet: so the top 20 and the suction side (a) of housing id.

When a dust mop (31) is to be cleaned, the switch is engaged and the suction unit 12 draws a large volume of air through the suction slots 2'7. FlGURE 4 illustrates the dust mop 351 as it is moved across the top 29 causing the lint and dirt on the mop 31 to be drawn out of the mop 31 and deposited in the dust collector bag 17. When the dust collector bag 1'7 becomes partially full of dust after occasions of use, with the electric switch in the 01% position, the top cover 21 is placed in the open positron. The dust collector bag 17 will then be accessible. By sliding the dust collector bag retaining ring ll j in a horizontal direction towards the right (as indicated in H6. 2) off of the dust collector bag adapter 16 and off of the dust collector bag 17, the dust collector bag 17 may be removed. A clean bag 17 is then placed into the housing 1% by slipping the mouth of the dust collector bag 17 over the dust collector bag adapter 16. The dust collector bag retainer ring 13 is then moved into the retaining position and it will remain in place as it seats into retaining ring groove 3t? in the neck of the adapter.

Various structural modifications relating to size, shape,

3 and arrangements of parts might be suggested by those versed in the arts. It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art. Having described the invention, I claim as new:

1. A dust mop cleaning device comprising a housing, having side walls, a bottom and a top, and an interior wall dividing the interior of the housing into a suction section and an exhaust section, said interior wall having an opening through which air may be driven from said suction section to said exhaust section;

a suction unit comprising an impeller, an impeller case,

an electric motor and a mounting flange all positioned within the suction section of the housing and the mounting flange being secured to and mounted on said interior wall, and all being mounted on and secured to said interior wall by said mounting flange so that said flange surrounds said opening in the interior wall and so that air exhausted from said suction unit is driven through the opening in the interior wall;

a dust collector bag unit positioned within the exhaust section consisting of a dust collector bag adapter surrounding the opening in the interior wall and provided with a groove, a dust collector bag made of air pervious material and having its open end embracing said dust collector bag adapter, and a rubber ring fitting over the dust collector bag and cooperating with the groove in the dust collector bag adapter to hold the dust collector bag in position to receive dust laden air through said opening from said suction unit;

the portion of the housing top above the exhaust section being provided with a hinged door whereby the door can be opened on its hinges exposing the dust collector bag and permitting the same to be removed for cleaning, disposal and replacement;

the portion of the housing top of the dust mop cleaning device above the suction section being formed with slots which permit dust laden air to travel intothe suction unit;

the walls of the exhaust section being formed with venting holes through which filtered air escaping through thetminute openings in the dust collector bag may escape from the exhaust section of the housing;

a conically shaped disc fastened to the suction unit above the air inlet opening in the suction unit and just below the suction slots to protect the impeller fan within the suction unit from damage in the event a solid object drops into the device; and

means comprising top mounting clips and screws therefor for mounting the unit on the subfloor of a house in a properly shaped opening in the floor so that the entire mechanism contained in the housing is located below the floor surface and so that the upper surface of the top of said unit is substantially at the same level as the adjoining floor surface.

2. A dust mop cleaning device comprising a housing, having side walls, a bottom and a top, and an interior wall dividing the interior of the housing into a suction section and an exhaust section, said interior wall having an opening through which air may be driven from said suction section to said exhaust section;

a suction unit comprising an impeller, an impeller case, a flange to which said case is secured and an electric motor, all positioned within the suction section of the housing and being secured to and mounted on said interior wall so that said flange surrounds said opening in the interior wall and so that air exhausted from said suction unit is driven through the opening in the interior wall;

a dust collector bag unit positioned within the exhaust section consisting of a dust collector bag adapter surrounding the opening in the interior Wall, a dust collector bag made of air pervious material and having its open end embracing said dust collector bag adapter, means cooperating with the dust collector bag adapter to hold the dust collector bag in position to receive dust laden air'through said opening from said suction unit;

the portion of the housing top above the exhaust section being provided with a hinged door whereby the door can be opened on its hinges exposing the dust collector bag and permitting the same to be removed for cleaning, disposal and replacement;

the portion of the housing top of the dust mop cleaning device above the suction section being formed with slots which permitdust laden air to travel into the suction unit; and

means for mounting the unit. on the subfloor of a house in a properly shaped opening in the floor so that the entire mechanism contained in the housing is located below the floor surface and so that the upper surface of the top of said unit is substantially at the same level as the adjoining floor surface.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which venting holes are provided in the exhaust section through which filtered air escaping through the minute openings in the dust collector bag may escape from said exhaust section of the housing.

4. A dust mop cleaning device comprising a housing, having side walls, a bottom and a top, and an interior wall dividing the interior of the housinginto a suction section and an exhaust section, said wall having an opening through which air may be driven from said suction section to said exhaust section;

a suction unit comprising an impeller, and an electric motor, all positioned within the suction section of the housing and secured to and mounted surrounding said opening in the interior Wall in position so that air exhausted from said suction unit is driven through the opening in the interior wall;

a dust collector bag unit positioned within the exhaust section consisting of a dust collector bag adapter surrounding the opening in the interior wall, a dust collector bag made of air pervious material and having its open end embracing said dust collector bag adapter, means cooperating with the dust collector bag adapter to hold the dust collector bag in position to receive dust laden air through said opening from said suction unit;

the portion of the housing top above the exhaust section being provided with a hinged door whereby the door can be opened on its hinges exposing the dust collector bag and permitting the same to be removed for cleaning, disposal and replacement;

the portion of the housing top of the dust mop cleaning device above the suction section being formed with slots which permit dust laden air to travel into the suction unit; and

means for mounting the unit on the subfloor of a house in a properly shaped opening in the fioor so that the entire mechanism contained in the housing is located below the floor surface and so that the upper surface of the top of said unit is substantially at the same level as the adjoining floor surface.

5. The structure of claim 2 in which the top of said housing is sufiiciently rigid so that when the appliance is properly mounted in the floor the top will support per sons who walk thereon.

6. The structure of claim 2 in which the dust collector bag is secured to the adapter by means of a rubber ring fitting over the dust collector bag and holding it in contact with the adapter.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Naul Feb. 21, 1933 Liedtke et a1 Feb. 18, 1936 Curtis Oct. 12, 1943 Fallowfield Dec. 12, 1950 6 Shearer May 14, 1957 Kiraly Apr. 24, 1962 Jonas Nov. 20, 1962 PGREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 2, 1959 

4. A DUST MOP CLEANING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING, HAVING SIDE WALLS, A BOTTOM AND A TOP, AND AN INTERIOR WALL DIVIDING THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSING INTO A SUCTION SECTION AND AN EXHAUST SECTION, SAID WALL HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH AIR MAY BE DRIVEN FROM SAID SUCTION SECTION TO SAID EXHAUST SECTION; A SUCTION UNIT COMPRISING AN IMPELLER, AND AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, ALL POSITIONED WITHIN THE SUCTION SECTION OF THE HOUSING AND SECURED TO AND MOUNTED SURROUNDING SAID OPENING IN THE INTERIOR WALL IN POSITION SO THAT AIR EXHAUSTED FROM SAID SUCTION UNIT IS DRIVEN THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE INTERIOR WALL; A DUST COLLECTOR BAG UNIT POSITIONED WITHIN THE EXHAUST SECTION CONSISTING OF A DUST COLLECTOR BAG ADAPTER SURROUNDING THE OPENING IN THE INTERIOR WALL, A DUST COLLECTOR BAG MADE OF AIR PERVIOUS MATERIAL AND HAVING ITS OPEN END EMBRACING SAID DUST COLLECTOR BAG ADAPTER, MEANS COOPERATING WITH THE DUST COLLECTOR BAG ADAPTER TO HOLD THE DUST COLLECTOR BAG IN POSITION TO RECEIVE DUST LADEN AIR THROUGH SAID OPENING FROM SAID SUCTION UNIT; THE PORTION OF THE HOUSING TOP ABOVE THE EXHAUST SECTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A HINGED DOOR WHEREBY THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED ON ITS HINGES EXPOSING THE DUST COLLECTOR BAG AND PERMITTING THE SAME TO BE REMOVED FOR CLEANING, DISPOSAL AND REPLACEMENT; THE PORTION OF THE HOUSING TOP OF THE DUST MOP CLEANING DEVICE ABOVE THE SUCTION SECTION BEING FORMED WITH SLOTS WHICH PERMIT DUST LADEN AIR TO TRAVEL INTO THE SUCTION UNIT; AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE UNIT ON THE SUBFLOOR OF A HOUSE IN A PROPERLY SHAPED OPENING IN THE FLOOR SO THAT THE ENTIRE MECHANISM CONTAINED IN THE HOUSING IS LOCATED BELOW THE FLOOR SURFACE AND SO THAT THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE TOP OF SAID UNIT IS SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE ADJOINING FLOOR SURFACE. 